Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare formed clinical consensus groups to create a uniform process for treating stroke and sepsis, ultimately netting the not-for-profit health system $800,000 in cost savings and revenue in the second quarter of 2018.

Physicians, nurses and administrative decision-makers huddled in March 2017 to develop standards of care, weeding out any unnecessary steps and streamlining the protocol used across the system.

Physician leaders had the autonomy to set their own strategy, and data analysts and quality outcomes specialists helped each team execute. It required prioritizing and embedding care standards into the workflow. Setting clear targets to fulfill a common goal was key, Methodist executives said.